Uncover the natural beauty and rich culture of southwest China in all its glory, from the serene lakes of Dali and ancient towns of Lijiang to the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge and mystical Shangri-La.
Auckland - Beijing/Shanghai
Own way to Auckland Airport and take a flight to Beijing/Shanghai.
Beijing/Shanghai - Dali
Arrive in Beijing/Shanghai, meet the guide and transfer to 798 Art District for a city tour. After lunch, transfer to the airport for the flight to Dali. Upon arrival in Dali, meet the guide, have dinner before check in hotel.
Hotel Accommodation: Dali Landscape Hotel or similar 4-star
Dali
Breakfast
Lunch
After breakfast, visit Erhai Park, the breathtaking Dali Ideal State—Santorini. The town is nestled by Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, with most buildings in white and brown, exuding European and Bai ethnic charm. Flowers, greenery, and cacti adorn the pure white scenery, beautiful yet not excessive. Then, visit Wenbi Village, known for its Bai ethnic residential buildings, surrounded by Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, with picturesque scenery. After lunch, continue to explore Shuanglang Ancient Town, known as the “First Town of Cang’er Scenery,” where the architectural style blends ancient and modern, art and rock, showcasing diverse cultures and historical vicissitudes.
Hotel Accommodation: Dali Landscape Hotel or similar 4-star
Dali
Breakfast
Free activities or optional tours:
Haixi Line Optional Tour: 550 RMB/person (includes full-day transportation, guide service, and attraction tickets, two meals)(16 people minimum, includes lunch: Hotpot Fish Flavor 50, Dinner: Jumping Dish Flavor 60)
Dali Ancient City Foreigner Street + Erhai Ecological Corridor (Music Bar Car) + Ethnic Costume Photo + 3 Electronic Photos/person + 30-second Aerial Video (Group Video) + Xizhou Ancient Town including Internet-famous Horse Carriage + Three-course Tea Song and Dance Performance + Dali Bai Ethnic Jumping Dish Flavor Meal
Optional tour RMB 550 should be NZD 140.
Hotel Accommodation: Dali Landscape Hotel or similar 4-star
Dali - Lijiang
Breakfast
Free activities in the morning, then transfer to Lijiang in the afternoon, visit Black Dragon Pool Park, and then visit Highland Dulong Jade.Visit the ancient city of Sifang Street
Hotel Accommodation: JIXIANGYUAN HOTEL or similar 4-star
Lijiang
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, head to the picturesque highland lake – Lashi Lake Wetland for a tour. In winter, the trees and aquatic plants around Lashi Lake turn golden, creating a beautiful landscape where people and nature coexist harmoniously. Especially in the early morning when the sun just rises, migratory birds rest peacefully in the wetland or soar in the sky, forming a harmonious picture with the distant red and green mountains and forests. Then visit: Silk Bedding Exhibition Hall. After lunch, head to the ancient town of Shuhe on the Tea Horse Road, a thousand-year-old town with well-preserved ancient roads, markets, and nearly a thousand traditional houses.
Hotel Accommodation: Jixiangyuan Hotel or similar 4-star
Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shangri-La
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, drive to Zhongdian Shangri-La, visiting the following attractions along the way: Dukezong Ancient City: The ancient city comes alive at dusk, with groups of Tibetans dancing joyfully in the Moonlight Square. Visitors from all directions come to the world’s largest prayer wheel, turning it for a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment. Tiger Leaping Gorge (including up and down elevators): Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world’s most famous canyons, known for its breathtaking and majestic scenery. From Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, follow the Chongjiang River down the slopes of Haba Snow Mountain to enter the gorge. The upper part of the gorge is the narrowest, with a width of only a few meters. In the middle of the river stands a 13-meter-high boulder – Tiger Leaping Stone, where the river and the giant stone clash, creating a thunderous roar and an extraordinary spectacle. Guishan Park: Guishan Park was established during the Kangxi period.This garden is built along the mountain, with the Chaoyang Tower at the top. The tower has three floors, and from the top, you can have a panoramic view of the Sun and Moon City. At the foot of the mountain is an ancient well that provides drinking water for the entire town, with clear and sweet water. Many years ago, every morning, groups of young girls would carry water, creating a beautiful scene in the ancient city.
Prayer Wheel: The world’s largest prayer wheel, approximately as tall as a five-story building. The body of the wheel is made of pure copper and gold-plated. The upper part of the wheel is engraved with reliefs of the four great Bodhisattvas: Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Avalokiteshvara, and Ksitigarbha. The lower part is engraved with the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism. Inside the wheel, there are 1.24 million mantras and various Buddhist treasures weighing a total of 16 tons. To turn such a massive prayer wheel requires the simultaneous effort of many people.
Each complete turn is equivalent to reciting the Buddha’s name 1.24 million times. Turning it three times can bring disaster relief, blessings, and good fortune.
Hotel Accommodation: Elong Hotel or similar 4-star
Shangri-La - Lijiang
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery (including an eco-friendly vehicle). Ganden Sumtseling Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kham region. It is also the center of the Gelug school in the Sichuan-Yunnan area and holds a significant position in the entire Tibetan region, known as the “Little Potala Palace.” The monastery is built along the mountain, resembling an ancient fortress, and is a masterpiece of Tibetan architectural art, also known as the “Tibetan Art Museum.” Then visit the Napa Lake Wetlands and Highland Barley Avenue. After lunch, return to the ancient city of Lijiang.
Hotel Accommodation: JIXIANGYUAN HOTEL or similar 4-star
Lijiang
Breakfast
Free activities or optional tours:
Optional tour: 550 RMB/person (minimum 16 people, including two meals: lunch with salmon flavor and dinner with Naxi local dishes and bonfire dance) Visit an ancient Naxi village, explore the homes of the Naxi people, learn about Dongba pictographs, experience stone mill bean grinding, visit the Naxi Museum, and take photos in Naxi traditional clothing. After lunch, visit the Yuzhu Qingtian Scenic Area, where snow-capped mountains, lakes, clear springs, cliff carvings, Yulong Academy, and ancient trees over a thousand years old are integrated into one.The Summer Palace of the Toast, the Dongba Divine Court, and the Buddhist holy sites shine together here. The Yuzhu Qingtian Scenic Area is a place to soothe the soul, an Eden where immortals reside.
Hotel Accommodation: Jixiangyuan Hotel or similar 4-star
Lijiang - Beijing/Shanghai
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Beijing/Shanghai. Upon arrival in Beijing, visit Wangfujing Street for shopping and tasting local delicacies on your own. Gather at 21:00 and head to Beijing Capital/Shanghai International Airport to complete exit and boarding procedures.
Beijing/Shanghai - Auckland
Fly back to Auckland.
Please note that special promotional fares are non-refundable and non-cancellable for personal reasons. NZD1000.00 per person is required at the time of booking and the balance to be paid 3 months prior to departure. Passport details must be provided immediately to secure your reservation.
